Text: Matt. 16:13-17
Topic: Who do ye say I am
Our Lord and Saviour although omniscient decided to ask His disciples two germane questions amongst an abundance of even spiritual issues he could raise with them such as: did you take a record to the extent possible of the miracles in the last crusade, which of those miracles were you surprised the most about, have you all done what is necessary for the next outreach as assigned but he chose in this passage to ask these:
Who do people say I am vs.13
Who do ye say I am vs.15
If we were to ask ourselves the same questions, digging into our encounters, experiences, and knowledge of Jesus what would our response be?
Some facts about the knowledge/knowing of Jesus
1. The knowledge of Jesus revelational vs.17: en-route Emmaus Jesus journeyed with some disciples but they didn’t recognise Him until the breaking of bread when He was revealed Luke 24:13ff, Gal.1:12 Paul gives an account that His testament/teachings were not taken/copied word for word from anyone but by the revelation of Jesus Christ, Jesus responded to the correct and current understanding of Apostle Peter that flesh and blood didn’t reveal what he knew to him.
2. It is progressive and continuous: Just like God and His messengers gave a progressive introduction of Jesus to the world viz: At birth Luke 2:8ff At baptismal Matt.3:16-17, At the transfiguration Matt.17:5, At departure to tell that He is coming back albeit as a Judge Acts 1:9-11.Apostle Paul with the level of education, exposure, encounter, and even divine enablement understood that that he needed more of God Phil.3:10.The knowledge of Jesus Christ is progressive, the more we move close to God and listen to Him we know Him more, when we study His word we know Him.
3. It aligns with the scriptures: John 10:35-38, It is not spiritual for anyone to bring any understanding that lacks basis in the scripture irrespective of the person's age, image or whatever he/she has, that stance will be anti-God, God is His word John1:1.
A lot of us define God based on encounters we have had with Him, and things He has done for us amongst others which may not be bad in fact all the names of God in the scriptures and the ones we call Him aside what He called himself are outcomes/outburst of encounters they/we had with him.
Jesus summarily did three things as a man: Destroy the works of the devil 1John 3:8, Restored men back to God John 4, raise disciples who would take the gospel to the uttermost part of the world Mark 16:15, and humans have given diverse names to Him along these lines, this stance isn't bad however.
Summarily Jesus is more than what people call him/say, Peter said Thou art Christ the son of the living God, no matter the location and situation that definition suffices, it is an eternal/valid definition of His personality, have you met Him?
